HBO Shows Now Available in HD on iTunes

HBO has been a popular programming source for iTunes Store users since its debut three years ago due to the premium cable channel's highly-regarded original programming. As noticed by one MacRumors reader, the iTunes Store has just begun offering HD versions of a number of HBO shows, adding another option for those looking for higher-quality content.

Among the shows now available in HD: Big Love, Bored to Death, Carnivale, Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 7), Deadwood, Eastbound & Down, Entourage (Seasons 3–7), Flight of the Conchords (Season 2), The Life & Times of Tim, Hung, Rome, Six Feet Under (Seasons 3–5), The Sopranos, True Blood

As with most HD content on the iTunes Store, episodes carry a $1.00 premium over their respective standard-definition versions. Most HBO content is priced at $3.99 HD and $2.99 SD, although some shows come in at $2.99 HD and $1.99 SD. The new HD offerings appear to be available in the United States and Canada.

It blows my mind how content providers (i.e. the studios) continue to charge premiums for digital media over physical media when they are able to avoid all of the inherent costs of physical media (materials, production, transportation, labor, insurance, theft, etc.). I continue to refuse to buy digital content at the same price or at mark up, especially when I don't get to share it or use it as I want/need to and I don't get the numerous extra content provided on physical disk copies OR the HD quality of a Blu-Ray. Until then, I catch as much as I can on cable and buy physical disks when I really want to own something long term.

The saddest part of this is that I know, not so deep down, this is exactly the behavior the studios want. So short sighted.

Can someone please give me some more info on how I might be able to pay more than twice the amount of a years subscription on one season of one stinking show ?

Cause ..I'm an Apple crazed lunatic frothing at the mouth to give Steve Jobs all my money without thinking.

I have no concept of value and was thinking about throwing two $20 dollar bills into the street ...............But HEY ....I can buy these overpriced shows to fill up gigs on my iPad .....FOR NO REASON

Yaaaaaaeeeyyy !:rolleyes:

I think you'd be better off if someone geve you more info on how to forge a productive, meaningful life for yourself, and those other questions will answer themselves. For instance, once you move out of your parents' basement and start paying your own cable bill, you'll notice that HBO costs $200-$300 a year, not $20-$30 a year as you seem to think, and their shows have historically had very lo-o-o-ong hiatuses, so if you're only subscribing to HBO for two or three of their shows, it's probably cheaper in the long run to buy them, even at iTunes prices.

And once you move to an actual multi-room dwelling with - gasp - maybe a spouse and kids, you'll find quite a bit of value to having your content readily available on multiple devices, and not tethered to an optical disc and whatever TV you happen to have a Blu-Ray player connected to.

And most of all, once you have elevated your existence from shut-in to productive, dignified human being, you'll understand that your time on this earth is actually valuable, and you'll become more annoyed by the time-wasting nonsense that comes with watching Blu-Ray discs: loading up discs, cueing up partially-watched episodes, navigating menus, sitting through interminable and unskippable content (trailers, merchandise commercials, piracy warnings, and my personal favorite, commentary track disclaimers). And you'll realize - again, keep in mind that your time will be actually worth something in this scenario - that you might even be willing to pay a little extra to avoid all that.

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